Archana Kamath Shifts Focus From Table Tennis To Shaping Future Of India As Economist

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Archana Kamath will miss wearing the Indian jersey, but the table tennis player is now focused on contributing to the country in a different way - as an economist shaping public policies.

Following her recent success at the Paris Olympics, where she recorded India's only victory in the quarterfinal loss to Germany, the 24-year-old from Bengaluru has returned to student life in the USA. She is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

Starting her professional career as a teenager, Archana's decision to step away from table tennis has been an emotional one. However, she has always had a strong passion for academics, excelling in school with top scores in her 10th and 12th exams.

This is her second master's degree, after previously completing a postgraduate degree in International Relations. With a bachelor's degree in economics, Archana plans to return to India after completing her studies in two years, where she hopes to contribute as an economist.

Her inspirations range from renowned economist Sanjeev Sanyal to tennis legends like Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, whom she had the opportunity to meet at the Olympic Village in Paris.

Speaking from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Archana discussed her decision to leave elite sports after the Olympics, making it clear that her choice was not financially driven. She expressed gratitude for the support from her employers-Indian Oil, OGQ, and the government-throughout her sporting career.

"I have always loved studying as much as playing table tennis," Archana said. "I had looked into this course at Michigan last year but delayed it to focus on the Olympics when our team qualified for the first time. Now that the Olympics are over, I want to focus on my studies and return to India in a different capacity. My decision has nothing to do with financial gain; representing India has been my greatest honor."

Coming from a financially secure family of doctors-both parents are ophthalmologists, and her brother is pursuing a PhD in aerospace engineering-Archana remains connected to table tennis, particularly after experiencing the camaraderie of the Olympic team environment.

She plans to continue playing table tennis in the USA but will miss the support of her teammates. "The best part of the Olympics was being with veterans like Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra. I also got to meet Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Carlos Alcaraz. Those memories are priceless," she shared.

While Archana is certain about becoming a public servant in India after her studies, she is still exploring the specifics. Her passion for policy-making is clear, with the goal of contributing to India's growth. She admires Sanjeev Sanyal's diverse work and finds inspiration in his accomplishments as she embarks on her new journey.